The well equipped and well developed transport facilities play a major role in the economic development of every country and city. Kolkata the cosmopolitan city has the mix blend of modern as well traditional means of transport from modern tram to traditional rickshaws. Kolkata has well equipped transport facilities spread through out the city thus shortening the distance of wide expanded city. Apart from better local transport facilities the city is well connected by all sources of transport with the whole country and rest of the world. The Dum Dum Airport connects the city with rest of the country and world.
The Transport Department of the Kolkata, under the government of West Bengal is accountable for the proper implementation of traffic rules and transport management in the different districts under the supervision of Regional Transport Officer (RTO) located at different districts of the state. The main obligation of RTO are listed below:
1. Issuance of Learner, Driver & Conductor license
2. Registration of Private & Commercial vehicles
3. Collection of various taxes as per the states requirements
4. Issuance of various types of permits
5. Automated application tracking system
6. Enforcement Module
7. Automated alert system
8. Biometrics features
9. Complaint registering and escalation mechanism
10. Photographs on the registration certification
11. Generation of various MIS reports
The various means of transport in kolkata include:Railways (Kolkata Suburban Railways): Kolkata has headquarters of two divisions of Indian Railways namely the Eastern Railways and South Eastern Railways. Railway stations at Howrah and Sealdha are two major railway stations, the third station called as Kolkata is under construction.
Road Transport (Buses and Taxis): Kolkata has a vast network buses operated by government as well private agencies. Apart from huge and vast network of private bus operators the state owned buses run by Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC), Calcutta Tramsway Corporation), West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC) also play an important role in providing better road transport facilities to the citizens.
The specialty of private owned buses is their colour which separates them according to their classification of regular and mini buses. The regular buses are light blue and yellow in colour and spacious most of these buses are over crowded. The mini buses have limited seats and are coloured in brown and yellow shades.
Trams: Kolkata is only the city in India to operate trams as source of transport. Calcutta Tramways Company is the supreme authority looking after the maintenance of trams operation in the city. The eco-friendly impact of tram attracts the people as the main source of transport. However, with the huge trucks running in the heavy traffic of city develops the difficulty for trams to get proper stoppage for people to accommodate the facility of tram.
Pulling Rickshaws and Auto Rickshaws: Apart from various means of well developed and rapid means of transport. The traditional means of pulling rickshaws as means of transport still prevail in the city. These pulling rickshaws are generally operated by the poor migrants from Bihar and West Bengal. However government is making efforts to stop the operation of such rickshaws on humanitarian basis. Apart from this Auto Rickshaws are used as means of transport for short distances. The major drawback of auto rickshaws are the fares charged by auto rickshaw drivers. Auto rickshaws do not have meters to calculate the fares as the result fare is charged according to wish of driver.
Water Transport: Kolkata Port Trust is one of the best Port formers we have in the country. Kolkata port has regular passengers to Port Blair.
Apart from this Howrah bridge connects the city with local water boats adjoining the various ghats like Howrah Ghat, Shibpur Ghat, Prinsep Ghat, Cossipore Ghat.
Despite of all these means of transport private taxis and cabs are also used by the people for long distance travel.
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